North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belickick just landed a new quarterback for his 2026-27 roster.
Sure, college football has been in the offseason since the Indiana Hoosiers’ win over the Miami Hurricanes on Jan. 19, with a 27-21 Hoosiers victory. But, the offseason can be just as exciting as the regular season in college football, and moves like this are proof that there’s always something happening in college football, even in February.
On Sunday, Feb. 15, Pete Nakos of On3 shared a report that Belickick has signed Western Carolina transfer quarterback Taron Dickens to the Tar Heels. Dickens passed for 3,508 yards, 38 touchdowns and two interceptions during the 2025-26 season.
Dickens will be up against Billy Edwards Jr. (Wisconsin) and Miles O’Neill (Texas A&M) to lead North Carolina under new coordinator Bobby Petrino. The team’s 2025 quarterbacks Gio Lopez (Wake Forest), Max Johnson (Georgia Southern) and Bryce Barker (Virginia Tech) all left during the offseason.
“Ok, now this is going to be exciting. I was watching his highlights two days ago, and oh, man, he is something to watch,” one follower stated of the move on X. “The QB Battle at North Carolina should then come down to Billy Edwards Jr vs Taron Dickens. Edwards injuries may have hampered his athleticism, Dickens won’t throw as well as Edwards but will offer more in the scramble/improvisational areas of the field,” another added.
Dickens is a high-profile add. Last season, he broke the NCAA record for most consecutive passes completed in a single game with 46 in a row on Oct. 4. He also closed out the game 53-for-56 with 378 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Catamounts to a 23-21 victory over Wofford.
More sports news: Trinidad Chambliss’ Football Future Decided in Eligibility Hearing
He also scored various FCS All-American honors and was runner-up in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, awarded to FCS’ top offensive player.
More sports news: Ole Miss Coach Clarifies ‘Controversial’ Trinidad Chambliss Comments
The next big event for college football players, albeit those leaving the NCAA, is the 2026 NFL Draft, which is set to take place on from April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick, and they’re largely projected to take championship-winning Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Read the full article here
